TITLE:
Effect of Tillage Practices on Hydro-Physical Properties of Soils in a Rice-Grown Environment in North Central Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Ebierni Akpoebidimiyen Otuaro, John Jiya Musa, Felix Oguche, Abayomi Ibrahim Kuti, Abubakar Ndaman
KEYWORDS:
Degradation, Erosion, Fertility, Irrigation, Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.15 No.5,
May
27,
2024
ABSTRACT: This study details soil’s physical and chemical properties in a rice-grown environment in Minna environs Niger State, Nigeria, under different soil and water conservation practices. Soil samples were collected at 0 - 10 cm, 10 - 20 cm and 20 - 30 cm, respectively, using a soil auger to determine their physical and chemical properties such as moisture content, particle size, bulk density, particle density, porosity and organic matter. The textural classification determined the percentage dominance of the soil types in each study site location. The moisture content of site 1 ranged between 14.3% to 13.7%, site 2 ranged between 13.2% to 10.2%, site 3 ranged between 15.4% to 13.2%, site 4 ranged between 15.6% to 13.6% and site 5 ranged between 16.1% to 10.9%. The clay content of sites 3, 4 and 5 is higher than that of sites 1 and 2, while the silt contents of sites 1, 2 and 3 are higher than that of sites 4 and 5. The mean value of soil organic carbon from each study location was 2.37%, 2.03%, 2.43%, 2.07% and 2.17% for sites 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Therefore, site 1 is susceptible to erosion because of poor infiltration rate and well-ploughed or cultivated land by the tractor (harrowed). The particle sizes analysis indicated that the soil type in Site 1 and Site 2 is mainly sandy loam, while Site 3 and Site 5 are mainly loamy and predominantly clay loam in Site 4.